Synchronous rectification circuit for power converters

ABSTRACT

A synchronous rectification circuit for power converters operable under fixed and/or variable frequencies where no current sense circuit or phase-lock circuit are needed is provided. It has a power switch coupled to a transformer for the rectification. A signal-generation circuit is used for generating a control signal in response to a magnetized voltage of the transformer, a demagnetized voltage of the transformer, and a magnetization period of the transformer. The control signal is coupled to turn on the power switch. The enable period of the control signal is correlated to a demagnetization period of the transformer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to power converter, and more specifically relates to a control circuit of switching power converter.

2. Description of Related Art

FIG. 1 shows a traditional power converter with a synchronous rectifier, for improving the efficiency of power conversion. A magnetic device such as a transformer 10 includes a primary winding N_(P) and a secondary winding N_(S). A switch 15 is connected to the primary winding N_(P) for switching the transformer 10 and for regulating the output of the power converter. The secondary winding N_(S) is coupled to the output of the power converter through a power switch 20 and a capacitor 30. The power switch 20 and its body diode 25 are operated as the synchronous rectifier. A voltage V_(E) is applied to the primary winding N_(P) in response to the turning-on of the switch 15 during the magnetization period. Therefore, a charge current I_(C) is generated in accordance with the voltage V_(E) and inductance of the primary winding N_(P). Meanwhile, a magnetized voltage V_(S) is produced at the secondary winding N_(S). Once the switch 15 is turned off, the energy of the transformer 10 is delivered to the output of the power converter through the secondary winding N_(S) and the power switch 20. A demagnetized voltage (the output voltage V_(O)) is thus applied to the secondary winding N_(S) during the demagnetization period. A discharge current I_(D) is generated according to the demagnetized voltage and the inductance of the secondary winding N_(S).

$\begin{matrix} {I_{C} = {\frac{V_{E}}{L_{P}} \times T_{CHARGE}}} & (1) \\ {I_{D} = {\frac{V_{O}}{L_{S}} \times T_{DISCHARGE}}} & (2) \end{matrix}$

where L_(P) and L_(S) are the inductances of the primary winding N_(P) and the secondary winding N_(S) of the transformer 10, respectively. T_(CHARGE) is the magnetization period; and T_(DISCHARGE) is the demagnetization period.

In continuous current mode (CCM) operation, the switch 15 is turned on before the transformer 10 is completely demagnetized. Under the discontinuous current mode (DCM), the energy in the transformer 10 is fully demagnetized before the start of the next switching cycle. FIGS. 2A and 2B show the waveforms of the DCM and CCM, respectively. If the power switch 20 is not turned off after the transformer 10 is fully demagnetized, a reverse current will be flowed to the power switch 20 to discharge the capacitor 30. This reverse current decreases the efficiency of the power converter. In order to avoid the reverse current, a conventional method had been proposed for the synchronous rectification, such as in “PWM controller for synchronous rectifier of flyback power converter” by Yang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,995,991. A resistor 40 and its control circuit 45 are used to turn off the power switch 20 once the discharge current I_(D) is lower than a threshold value. Furthermore, a phase-lock circuit is equipped to turn off the power switch 20 before the start of the next switching cycle during the CCM operation. Nevertheless, the current detection and the phase-lock circuit produce power losses and add complexity to the system. Furthermore, a wide variable frequency system, such as a resonant power converter, causes problems for phase locking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a synchronous rectification circuit that is applicable for use in power converters operating under fixed frequency and/or variable frequency. No current sense circuit or phase-lock circuit is needed. The synchronous rectification circuit comprises a power switch coupled to a transformer (a magnetic device) for the rectification. A signal-generation circuit is used for generating a control signal in response to a magnetized voltage of the transformer, a demagnetized voltage of the transformer, and a magnetization period of the transformer. The control signal is coupled to turning on the power switch. The enable period of the control signal is correlated to a demagnetization period of the transformer. Furthermore, the control signal is increased in response to the increase of the magnetized voltage. The control signal is decreased in response to the decrease of the magnetization period of the transformer. Besides, the control signal is decreased in response to the increase of the demagnetized voltage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a traditional power converter with synchronous rectifier.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the waveforms of the DCM and CCM, respectively.

FIG. 3 shows a power converter including a synchronous rectification circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a switching-control circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the schematics of a plurality of voltage-to-current conversion circuits according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a signal-generation circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a plurality of waveforms of the synchronous rectification circuit in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 3 shows a switching power converter comprising a synchronous rectification circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention that is applicable for use in power converters operating under fixed frequency and/or variable frequency. No current sense circuits or phase-lock circuits are needed. The power switch 20 is coupled to the transformer 10 (the magnetic device) for the rectification. A switching-control circuit 100 is used for generating a control signal S_(W) in response to a magnetized voltage V_(S), a demagnetized voltage, and a magnetization period of the transformer 10. The control signal S_(W) is coupled to turn on the power switch 20. The enable period of the control signal S_(W) is correlated to a demagnetization period of the transformer.

When the switch 15 is turned on, a voltage V_(DS) is produced in between the secondary winding N_(S) and the power switch 20. The voltage V_(DS) is related to the magnetized voltage (V_(S)) of the transformer 10. V_(S)=V_(DS)−V_(O)  (3) When the switch 15 is turned off, the output voltage V_(O) is applied to the secondary winding N_(S) for the demagnetization. The output voltage V_(O) is thus correlated to the demagnetized voltage of the transformer 10. An input terminal S₁ of the switching-control circuit 100 is coupled to detect the voltage V_(DS) through a plurality of resistors 50 and 55. A diode 60 is further coupled to the secondary winding N_(S) to speed up the detection of the voltage V_(DS). Another input terminal S₂ is coupled to the output of the power converter for receiving the output voltage V_(O).

The magnetization flux Φ_(C) of the transformer is equal to the demagnetization flux Φ_(D). The equality is shown as,

$\begin{matrix} {\Phi_{C} = \Phi_{D}} & (4) \\ {\Phi = {{B \times {Ae}} = \frac{V \times T}{N}}} & (5) \\ {{\frac{V_{E}}{N_{P}} \times T_{CHARGE}} = {\frac{V_{O}}{N_{S}} \times T_{DISCHARGE}}} & (6) \\ {{V_{E} \times T_{CHARGE}} = {\frac{N_{P}}{N_{S}} \times V_{O} \times T_{DISCHARGE}}} & (7) \\ {V_{E} = {\frac{N_{P}}{N_{S}} \times V_{S}}} & (8) \end{matrix}$

where B is the flux density, Ae is the cross-section area of the transformer, T is the magnetization period (T_(CHARGE)) or the demagnetization period (T_(DISCCHARGE)) of the transformer, and N is the number of winding turns of the transformer.

The demagnetization period (T_(DISCHARGE)) of the transformer 10 can be obtained in accordance with equations (7) and (8).

$\begin{matrix} {T_{DISCHARGE} = {\frac{V_{S}}{V_{O}} \times T_{CHARGE}}} & (9) \end{matrix}$

The equation (9) shows that the demagnetization period (T_(DISCHARGE)) can be predicted in accordance with the magnetized voltage V_(S), the demagnetized voltage V_(O), and the magnetization period (T_(CHARGE)). According to the equations (3) and (9), the demagnetization period (T_(DISCHARGE)) can be rewritten as the following:

$\begin{matrix} {T_{DISCHARGE} = {\frac{\left( {V_{DS} - V_{O}} \right)}{V_{O}} \times T_{CHARGE}}} & (10) \end{matrix}$ The enable period of the control signal S_(W) is generated in accordance with the demagnetization period (T_(DISCHARGE)) of the transformer 10. Therefore, the enable period of the control signal S_(W) is increased in response to the increase of the magnetized voltage V_(S). The enable period of the control signal S_(W) is decreased in response to the decrease of the magnetization period (T_(CHARGE)) of the transformer 10. Besides, the enable period of the control signal S_(W) is decreased in response to the increase of the demagnetized voltage V_(O).

FIG. 4 shows the switching-control circuit 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. An input circuit includes a plurality of operational amplifiers 110, 120, diodes 115, 125, voltage-to-current conversion circuits 140, 150, resistive devices 101, 102, and a hysterias-buffer circuit 180. The operational amplifier 110 and the diode 115 form a first unit-gain buffer supplied by the reference signal V_(R). The operational amplifier 120 and the diode 125 form a second unit-gain buffer coupled to the input terminal S₂ through the resistive devices 101 and 102. The output of the first unit-gain buffer and the output of the second unit-gain buffer are tied together to generate the signal V_(B). The reference signal V_(R) clamps the minimum value of the signal V_(B). The signal V_(B) is connected to the voltage-to-current conversion circuit 150 to generate a second signal I₂, and a third signal I₃ in response to the output voltage V_(O). The minimum value of the second signal I₂ is clamped to a limit value. The input terminal S₁ produces a voltage signal V_(A) that is connected to the voltage-to-current conversion circuit 140 to generate a first signal I₁ in response to the voltage V_(DS). Furthermore, the hysterias-buffer circuit 180 is coupled to the input terminal S₁ to generate a switching signal S_(ON) in response to the magnetization period of the transformer 10. The first signal I₁, the second signal I₂, the third signal I₃, and the switching signal S_(ON) are coupled to the signal-generation circuit 200 to generate the control signal S_(W).

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the voltage-to-current conversion circuits 140 and 150 according to the embodiment of the present invention, respectively. The voltage V_(A) is connected to an operational amplifier 141. The operational amplifier 141 is connected to a transistor 143 and a resistor 142 for generating a current I₁₄₃ in response to the voltage V_(A). The current I₁₄₃ is connected to a plurality of transistors 145 and 146 to generate the first signal I₁. The voltage V_(B) is connected to an operational amplifier 151. The operational amplifier 151 is connected to a transistor 153 and a resistor 152 for generating a current I₁₅₃ in response to the voltage V_(B). The current I₁₅₃ is connected to a plurality of transistors 155 and 156 to generate a current I₁₅₆. The current I₁₅₆ is further connected to a plurality of transistors 157, 158 and 159 for generating the second signal I₂ and the third signal I₃. Therefore the first current I₁ is generated in accordance with the voltage V_(A). The second signal I₂ and the third signal I₃ are generated in accordance with the voltage V_(B).

FIG. 7 shows the signal-generation circuit 200. A capacitor 220 is utilized to determine the period of the control signal S_(W). A first switch 210 is coupled in between the first signal I₁ and the capacitor 220. A second switch 215 is coupled in between the second signal I₂ and the capacitor 220. A first comparator 230 is coupled to the capacitor 220 for generating a first-control signal at the output of the first comparator 230 once the voltage of the capacitor 220 is higher than a first reference voltage V_(R1). An output circuit formed by an inverter 231 and an AND gate 232 is coupled to generate a first discharge signal at the output of the AND gate 232 in response to the enabling of the first-control signal and the disabling of the switching signal S_(ON). The switching signal S_(ON) is further coupled to control the first switch 210. The first switch 210 is turned on in response to the enabling of the switching signal S_(ON) The first discharge signal is coupled to control the second switch 215. The second switch 215 is turned on in response to the enabling of the first discharge signal. The first signal I₁ is used for charging the capacitor 220. The second signal I₂ is utilized for discharging the capacitor 220. The third signal I₃ is further coupled to the first signal I₁ to decrease the value of the first signal I₁.

The voltage V_(DS) determines the first signal I₁. The first signal I₁ can be expressed as,

$\begin{matrix} {I_{1} = {k\; 1 \times \frac{V_{DS}}{R_{142}}}} & (11) \end{matrix}$ The output voltage V_(O) determines the second signal I₂ and the third signal I₃ as the following:

$\begin{matrix} {I_{2} = {k\; 2 \times \frac{V_{O}}{R_{152}}}} & (12) \\ {I_{3} = {k\; 3 \times \frac{V_{O}}{R_{152}}}} & (13) \end{matrix}$ The voltage on the capacitor 220 can be expressed as,

$\begin{matrix} {V_{C} = {{\frac{I_{1} - I_{3}}{C} \times T_{ON}} = {\frac{\frac{k\; 1 \times V_{DS}}{R_{142}} - \frac{k\; 1 \times V_{O}}{R_{152}}}{C} \times T_{ON}}}} & (14) \end{matrix}$

where k1, k2 and k3 are constants such as the ratio of resistive devices and/or the gain of current mirror, C is the capacitance of the capacitor 220, T_(ON) is enable time of the switching signal S_(ON) (the charge time of the capacitor 220), R₁₄₂ is the resistance of the resistor 142, and R₁₅₂ is resistance of the resistor 152. The discharge time T_(OFF) of the capacitor 250 is given by,

$\begin{matrix} {T_{OFF} = {\frac{C \times V_{C}}{I_{2}} = \frac{C \times V_{C}}{k\; 2 \times \frac{V_{O}}{R_{152}}}}} & (15) \end{matrix}$ By properly selecting k1, k2, k3, R₁₄₂, and R₁₅₂, the discharge time T_(OFF) of the capacitor 250, can be rewritten according to equations (14) and (15):

$\begin{matrix} {T_{OFF} = {K \times \frac{V_{DS} - V_{O}}{V_{O}} \times T_{ON}}} & (16) \end{matrix}$ The discharge time T_(OFF) of the capacitor 250 is therefore corresponded to the demagnetization period T_(DISCHARGE) of the transformer 10.

$\begin{matrix} {T_{DISCHARGE} = {K \times \frac{V_{S}}{V_{O}} \times T_{CHARGE}}} & (17) \end{matrix}$

where K is a constant.

A second comparator 240 is coupled to the capacitor 220 to generate a second control signal at the output of the second comparator 240 once the voltage of the capacitor 220 is higher than a second reference voltage V_(R2). Another output circuit formed by an inverter 241 and an AND gate 250 is coupled to generate a second discharge signal at the output of the AND gate 250 in response to the enabling of the second-control signal and the disabling of the switching signal S_(ON). The control signal S_(W) can be generated in accordance with the first discharge signal or the second discharge signal. The second discharge signal is utilized to generate the control signal S_(W) in this embodiment. The second reference voltage V_(R2) is higher than the first reference voltage V_(R1). Therefore, the control signal S_(W) is disabled and the power switch 20 is turned off before the magnetizing of the transformer 10.

Referring to equation (16) and the waveforms of the synchronous rectification circuit of FIG. 8, the period of the control signal S_(W) is controlled by the discharge time T_(OFF) of the capacitor 250 (the voltage V_(C)). The period of the control signal S_(W) is decreased in response to the decrease of the charge time T_(ON) of the capacitor 250. The period of the control signal S_(W) is increased in response to the decrease of the output voltage V_(O). The charge time T_(ON) is controlled by the enable time of the switching signal S_(ON) which is correlated to the magnetization period (T_(CHARGE)).

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention covers modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A synchronous rectification circuit of the power converter, comprising: a power switch, coupled to a transformer for rectification; and a switching-control circuit, generating a control signal in response to a magnetized voltage of the transformer, a demagnetized voltage of the transformer, and a magnetization period of the transformer, wherein the control signal is coupled to control the power switch, and the enable period of the control signal is correlated to a demagnetization period of the transformer.
 2. The synchronous rectification circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enable period of the control signal is increased in response to the increase of the magnetized voltage, the enable period of the control signal is decreased in response to the decrease of the magnetization period of the transformer, and the enable period of the control signal is decreased in response to the increase of the demagnetized voltage.
 3. The synchronous rectification circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switching-control circuit, comprising: an input circuit, generating a first signal, a second signal, a third signal and a switching signal; and a signal-generation circuit, coupled to the input circuit to generate the control signal, wherein the first signal is correlated to a voltage of the transformer, the second signal and the third signal are correlated to the output voltage of the power converter, and the switching signal is generated in response to the magnetization period of the transformer.
 4. The synchronous rectification circuit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the signal-generation circuit, comprising: a capacitor; a first switch, coupled in between the first signal and the capacitor; a second switch, coupled in between the second signal and the capacitor; a first comparator, coupled to the capacitor to generate a first-control signal once the voltage of the capacitor is higher than a first reference voltage; and an output circuit, coupled to generate a first discharge signal in response to the enabling of the first-control signal and the disabling of the switching signal, wherein the first switch is turned on in response to the enabling of the switching signal, the second switch is turned on in response to the enabling of the first discharge signal, wherein the first signal is used for charging the capacitor, the second signal is utilized to discharge the capacitor, and the third signal is further coupled to the first signal to decrease the value of the first signal.
 5. The synchronous rectification circuit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the signal-generation circuit, further comprising: a second comparator, coupled to the capacitor to generate a second control signal once the voltage of the capacitor is higher than a second reference voltage, wherein the control signal is generated in accordance with the first discharge signal or a second discharge signal.
 6. The synchronous rectification circuit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the minimum value of the second signal is clamped to a limit value.
 7. The synchronous rectification circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power switch is turned off before the magnetizing of the transformer.
 8. A synchronous rectification apparatus for a power converter, comprising: a power switch, coupled to a magnetic device for rectification; and a switching-control circuit, generating a control signal coupled to control the power switch in response to a magnetized voltage of the magnetic device and a magnetization period of the magnetic device, wherein the enable period of the control signal is correlated to a demagnetization period of the magnetic device.
 9. The synchronous rectification apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein a demagnetized voltage of the magnetic device is further utilized to determine the enable period of the control signal.
 10. The synchronous rectification apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the enable period of the control signal is increased in response to the increase of the magnetized voltage, the enable period of the control signal is decreased in response to the decrease of the magnetization period of the magnetic device, and the enable period of the control signal is decreased in response to the increase of the demagnetized voltage.
 11. The synchronous rectification apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the power switch is turned off before the magnetizing of the magnetic device. 